The Social Sector often uses basic tools, like hammers and nails to change the world. Instead, we need power tools. Our weekly blog, Social TrendSpotter provides you with the latest trends and ideas within the social sector. It merges current thinking with the edge of innovation to inspire, to motivate and to take action so we can all ultimately create a better sector. Social TrendSpotter includes original analysis, but also highlights the latest sector-wide thinking into a user-friendly resource where social sector professionals and students alike can draw inspiration, share ideas and develop new thinking on best practices.
We love when the best “Social TrendSpotters” – you – share your experiences, observations and suggestions with us. Share your ideas here, and follow us on Facebook (@socialimpactarchitects), LinkedIn (@social-impact-architects),Twitter (@socialtrendspot) or Instagram (@socialtrendspot) for our latest posts and other insights.
Top Nonprofit Marketing Mistakes That Cost Money
One of my favorite days of the year is Super Bowl Sunday. The big game is not the only reason the day is interesting – the commercials are always a highlight. In my college courses, my students and I analyze Super Bowl commercials to find both good and bad examples of...
Why Failure Leads to Nonprofit Resilience and Success
With the Super Bowl right around the corner, one thing is certain: both teams will try hard, but one team will win and one team will lose. In fact, Tom Brady, who has been in more Super Bowls than any other player, won seven times but lost three times. Recently, he...
2023 Nonprofit Trends: Re-centering our Cultural Norms
Last year, we lost one of my leadership mentors – Frances Hesselbein, who is best known as the transformative leader of the Girls Scouts. This led her to be noticed by Peter Drucker, who named her “the best CEO in America” and later his successor. I interacted with...
Future-Proof Your Nonprofit Against a Recession
World leaders are gathering this week in Davos, Switzerland, to discuss world affairs. Prior to this meeting, the World Economic Forum published the Global Risks Report 2023, which discussed a new phrase to describe our current state: “polycrisis.” While the...
Has your Board “Quiet Quit”? How to Build a Successful Nonprofit Board in 2023
We love watching for new trends, and one of the most interesting ideas to come out of 2022 was the concept of “quiet quitting.” Popularized by TikTok, it started as a reference to employees who do the bare minimum in a job either for better work-life balance and/or...
Top 10 Moonshot Goals for the Social Sector
As a futurist for the social sector, I am often asked about what to expect in the future. While there are many things I don’t know, there are some that I do. For example, I know the social sector has risen to the challenge and opportunity of the post-COVID world and...
Favorite Inspirations to Celebrate the Holiday Season 2022
“Yellowstone” – the television show by Taylor Sheridan – is my latest binge-worthy show, and the season finale is right around the corner. Every time I watch an episode, I feel like I’m home. I grew up in East Texas and come from a long line of ranchers, cowboys and...
Nonprofit Trends and Inspiration: Top 5 TrendSpotter Favorites of 2022
With so much negativity swirling around us, it is easy to let it color our view of the world. But as I told my students in our wrap-up class last week, we have a choice. If we let them in, negative news and interactions can convince us that the world cannot be...
Inspire Donors to Invest in Your Work with a Nonprofit Year-End Report
As we turn the page on the final month of the calendar year, it’s normal to reflect on our accomplishments and set goals for the future. For individuals, saying these accomplishments and goals out loud (or writing them down) can help us remain accountable to ourselves...
